Report: Charlton Athletic 0-0 Dons

The Dons made it four points from two games following a 0-0 draw at Charlton Athletic.

Karl Robinson’s men backed up their win over QPR with a hard-fought point on the road in a tense encounter at The Valley.

Samir Carruthers and Nicky Maynard replaced Jake Forster-Caskey (ankle) and Alex Revell in the starting XI for the clash in South London.

Looking to build on the weekend success over QPR, the Dons started brightly and Maynard tested Nick Pope within the opening two minutes from 20 yards.

That early pressure continued but Josh Murphy and Darren Potter slightly over-hit their passes in quick succession as they looked for Jonny Williams and Maynard.

Shortly afterwards, Murphy spotted Pope off the line and, two yards inside his own half, tried his luck but the keeper got back and gathered.

Charlton’s first attempt didn’t come until the 12th minute - Yun Suk-Young sending a low drive harmlessly into the side-netting.

At the other end, Williams drove forward and fired a 25-yard effort not too far past the post before Murphy latched on to Maynard’s lay-off and curled a shot just wide with Pope scrambling.

More good football from the Dons presented Dean Bowditch with a chance to cross on 35 minutes but he was crowded out after getting to the byline.

On a rare foray forward for the Addicks, Callum Harriott saw a shot blocked by Dean Lewington from the edge of the area as the game ticked towards the final five minutes of the first half.

A clever pass from Carruthers picked out Bowditch who, after steadying himself, he fired over the top from a tight angle. That proved to be the last real action of a first half which the Dons had the better of.

There was a more open feel to the start of the second period and there was a chance at either end in quick succession around the 55-minute mark – Jordan Cousins curled just wide before substitute Rob Hall brought the best out of Pope from 25 yards.

Murphy then whipped in a dangerous cross, which just evaded Maynard and Bowditch at the back post just past the hour mark.

The Norwich City loanee was at it again five minutes later, latching on to Lewington’s superb pass and crossing for Maynard, who was denied from close range.

Ben Reeves and Revell were both introduced with just over 20 minutes remaining and the former arrowed one over the top before Hall was brilliantly denied at the back post.

The Dons were growing in confidence and a smart lay-off teed up Reeves but he dragged his effort wide from just outside the box.

On the counter-attack, the Addicks broke down the left and Zakarya Bergdich deliver a teasing cross which Yaya Sanogo and Simon Makienok couldn’t quite get on the end of.

There was a real ebb and flow to the game as it entered the final stages and, after some last-ditch defending at one end, the Dons broke down the other with Murphy being denied at the last.

A superb defensive header from McFadzean thwarted Sanogo while, at the other end, Carruthers fired over from 12 yards after racing on to a clever ball forward.

Charlton were reduced to 10 men in the final minute when Sanogo was given his marching orders for an off-the-ball incident involving Antony Kay.